New Riff Distilling

Recorded answer text · Google AI Overviews · 25 October 2026

Here are some of the best boutique and craft American distilleries across the country, known for hand-crafted spirits, unique production methods, and memorable visitor experiences:

### Colorado

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 Distillery Closed Denver, CO Order Call Directions Website

- Known For: Handcrafted, grain-to-bottle whiskies, rums, and vodkas. - Highlight: A cozy, neighborhood-focused tasting room with creative, reasonably priced craft cocktails.

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 Distillery Closed Centennial, CO Call Directions Website

- Known For: Place-driven Colorado bourbons, ryes, and unique cask finishes. - Highlight: Interactive tasting flights and community-driven events.

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 Distillery Closed Denver, CO Order Call Directions Website

- Known For: Pioneering American Single Malt whiskey. - Highlight: Guided tours highlighting high-altitude aging and a lively on-site cocktail bar.

### Kentucky

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 Distillery Closed Frankfort, KY Call Directions Website

- Known For: Historic castle-themed restoration offering gin, vodka, and bourbon. - Highlight: Stunning botanical gardens, a restored springhouse, and acclaimed craft cocktails.

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 Distillery Closed Bardstown, KY Call Directions Website

- Known For: Family-owned small-batch bourbons and ryes with deep independent roots. - Highlight: Deep-dive educational tours showing what sets a boutique distiller apart from industrial producers.

### Texas

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 Distillery Closed Waco, TX Call Directions Website

- Known For: Bold, innovative American single malts, blue corn bourbon, and unique cask strengths. - Highlight: A pioneer in the Texas craft whisky movement with intense, climate-influenced maturation.

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 Distillery Closed Hye, TX Call Directions Website

- Known For: The first legal bourbon distillery in Texas, utilizing local Texas-grown grains. - Highlight: Authentic ranch-style tours and sweet, high-proof straight bourbons.

### Other Notable Craft Names

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 Distillery Closed Newport, KY Call Directions Website Renowned for bottled-in-bond straight bourbons and ryes made with traditional methods.

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 Distillery Closed Wanship, UT Call Directions Website Famous for its ski-in gastro-distillery (The Saloon ) at the base of Park City Mountain.

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 Distillery Closed St. Louis, MO Call Directions Website Celebrated for grain-forward local Missouri spirits and experimental mashbills.

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### Quick Tips for Visiting

- Book Ahead: Many boutique distilleries have small production floors and require reservations for weekend tours or guided tastings. - Check Operating Days: Independent craft distilleries frequently close on early-week days (such as Mondays or Tuesdays).

If you have a specific state or city in mind, or prefer a particular type of spirit (like bourbon, single malt, gin, or agave), I can narrow down the best spots for you.

Recorded answer text · ChatGPT · 25 October 2026

If you're looking for the best small-batch spirits made in America, I'd start with craft distilleries that emphasize distinctive flavors, limited production, and strong competition results-not just big-name brands.

The strongest shortlist spans bourbon, rye whiskey, American single malt, gin, rum, and other specialty spirits. The 2026 American Craft Spirits Awards and World Whiskies Awards are useful starting points for separating standout bottles from the crowd. americancraftspirits.orgwhiskymag.com

## Best American small-batch spirits to explore

![New Riff Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey - Bottled in Bond - New Riff Distilling](

1\. Best bourbon: New Riff

Kentucky · Bourbon and rye

A great starting point for craft whiskey: bold grain character, well-defined spice, and a reputation for quality. Its Bottled-in-Bond Bourbon won World's Best Bourbon at the 2026 World Whiskies Awards. americancraftspirits.orgwhiskymag.com

Official website

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!Chattanooga Whiskey - Experimental Single Batch Series - Packaging Of The World

2\. Best experimental whiskey: Chattanooga Whiskey

Tennessee · Bourbon and experimental whiskey

Worth exploring for creative mash bills and distinctive whiskey styles. It was named Craft Producer of the Year in the 2026 Icons of Whisky America awards. americancraftspirits.orgwhiskymag.com

Official website

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!Barrel Craft Spirits 037 Cask Strength Bourbon | Delivery & Gifting

3\. Best barrel-blended whiskey: Barrell Craft Spirits

American whiskey · Blended batches and cask finishes

Particularly appealing if you enjoy complex, high-proof spirits with layers of oak, spice, and fruit. The company has earned multiple major competition awards. www.barrellbourbon.com

Official website

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![Jackson Hole Still Works Absaroka Double Cask 49 Barrel Aged Gin - Liquor Cave](

4\. Best craft gin: Jackson Hole Still Works - Absaroka Double Cask Gin 49

Wyoming · Gin

A standout choice if you want something beyond whiskey. This gin took Best of Gin at the 2026 American Craft Spirits Awards. americancraftspirits.org

Official website

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!RUMS - Cotton & Reed

5\. Best craft rum: Cotton & Reed - Aged Rum

Washington, D.C. · Rum

An excellent option for exploring American-made rum. Its Aged Rum earned Best of Rum at the 2026 American Craft Spirits Awards. americancraftspirits.org

Official website

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!Switchgrass Apple Brandy Bottled In Bond

6\. Best unusual alternative: Switchgrass Spirits - Bottled-in-Bond Apple Brandy

Missouri · Apple brandy

A compelling pick for someone who wants fruit-driven character rather than another bourbon. This expression was named Best of Brandy at the 2026 American Craft Spirits Awards. americancraftspirits.org

Official website

## Other award-winning small-batch bottles

These are also worth investigating\:

- E.H. Taylor Small Batch - named World's Best Small Batch Bourbon at the 2026 World Whiskies Awards. americancraftspirits.orgwhiskymag.com - Minglewood Distilling Bottled-in-Bond Rye - an Ohio-made rye recognized as America's Best Bottled-in-Bond Whiskey at the 2026 ADI International Spirits Competition. thewhiskeywash.com - Hard Truth Sweet Mash Rye - a small-batch option from a distillery known for its sweet-mash process. hardtruth.com

## Let me narrow down the best ones for you

What kind of spirits are you most interested in?

Bourbon

Rye and American whiskey

Gin, vodka, and rum

All spirits

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Budget per bottle

Under \$40

\$40-\$80

\$80-\$150

\$150+

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What matters most?

Best overall quality

Lesser-known hidden gems

Rare bottles and collecting

Best value for money

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What do you mean by small batch?

Independent craft distilleries

Limited releases and very small batches

Both craft and established brands

[Find my best bottles]

Recorded answer text · Perplexity · 25 October 2026

The best American-made spirits span bourbon, rye, American single malt, gin, vodka, brandy, rum, and regional specialties. A strong starter lineup:

- Bourbon: New Riff Bottled-in-Bond Bourbon - full-bodied, high-quality, and bottled at 100 proof. For a classic, choose Blanton's Original Single Barrel. - Rye whiskey: Old Overholt 250th Edition 4-Year Rye - a traditional, spicy American rye. - American single malt: Westland Garryana - Seattle-made whiskey aged with Pacific Northwest oak, offering a distinctly American alternative to Scotch. - Vodka: Tito's Handmade Vodka - a reliable Texas classic; for a smaller producer, try ALB Vodka from New York. - Gin: Leopold Bros Small Batch Gin - Denver-made, with botanicals distilled individually for a layered profile. - Brandy: Charbay California Brandy No. 83 - a premium California grape brandy. - Rum: Ragged Mountain Rum - New England rum with burnt-sugar, banana, and subtle smoky notes. - Amaro: T'Maro Amaro - a bittersweet California digestif with licorice and date-like flavors. - Apple brandy: Laird's Applejack - a historic New Jersey spirit and one of America's oldest continuously produced brandy labels.

Best overall pick: New Riff Bottled-in-Bond Bourbon. Best distinctive choice: Westland Garryana American Single Malt. Best value for cocktails: Tito's Handmade Vodka or Leopold Bros Gin.